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w. IvI. WAMPLER AND G. Ig-IIENRY.

LATCH MECHANlSM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. |919.

Patented Oct. 14,1919.

Y mR H OMN N TAE R mwH m MME M Lo H EB WG THE COLUMBIA PLANQGILVH co.. WASHINGTON; D. C.

WILLIAM Ivi. WAIvIrLnIt, or NEW YORK,

Ann esonera HENRY, or isntmvronn, new YORK.

LATCH MEGHANISM,

specification of Letters Patent.

Fatcnted 001i 14, 191.9.

` Application led March 1, 1919. Serial No, 279,972.

To all whom t may concern L' Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. 'WAMP- LER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New- York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, and GEORGE E. HENRY, a citizen ofk Switzerland, and a resident of Bellmore, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latch Mechanism, of which the following is aA specification.

Our invention relates to latch mechanism designed to be used with bars or gates for closing a path or passage, and particularly for use with bars or gates included in and forming a part of railing for preventing access to a space inclosed or shut olf by said railing. Such gates are also used in connection with railway cars for preventing persons from proceeding in the wrong direction, and in various other places where an easily operable, and at the same time a comparatively light bar is employed for closing an opening or passage.

The object of our invention is toprovide latch mechanism of the class above referred to and wherein a swinging bar is employed for closing an opening, togethery with latch mechanism which is normally in a position such as not to engage with the element with which it coperates to close the opening and at the same time support one'end yof the bar; so that `in closing a passage the operator will have tofirst move the bar into approximately the position 1t assumes when closing the passage, and then move a latch or locking member into engagement with a post or equivalent iixed support before theV free end of the bar can be ixedly secured in place and the locking of the bar regarded as completely accomplished.

A further object of our invention is to provide latch mechanism wherein a swinging bar for closing a passage between two fixed posts or abutments is provided with a reciprocating and oscillating latch member at its free end, the extremity of said latch member having a locking head adapted to be moved into engagement and to be interlocked with a xed support to thereby fasten the vbar in place;` but which head is normally in a position such that it will not engage with .he member with which it interlocks, a separate act on the part of the operator, ,during which the latch member is moved longitudinally of the bar and its locking Ahead into engagement with the post or abutment with which it interlocks, being necessary in order to complete `the locking of the bar in place.

NVith the aboveand other objects in view, our invention consists in the improved latch mechanism illustrated in the 'accompanying drawing, described in the following specification, 'and particularly claimed, and in such variations and modications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which our invention relates. A

In the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing our improved latch mechanism as seen from a position above the same, and showing also two side members or posts the opening or passage betweenV which is adapted to be closed by the latch mechanism wherein our invention consists;

Fig. 2 is a view showing our invention as seen in side elevation, .the side posts or abutments being also shown in this view;

Fig. 3 is a view upon a larger scale showing a section upon the plane indicated by of our yimproved latch mechanism interi locked with the left-hand side post shown in Figs. l and 2; and

Fig. 5 is a viewl showing a section upon a transverse plane indicated by the'line 5-5, Fig. 3. Y

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numerals 6-7 designate two upright abutments or posts the path or opening between which is closed by a movable bar 8 to thereby prevent the passage of persons between the posts, the said bar being hollow, at least for a portion of its length near its movable left-hand end, rand the same being shown as in the form of a section of pipe or tube. The right-hand end ofthis bar is connected with the upright post 6 by means of a bracket 9 with which the end of said bar is pivotally connected asat 10 to thereby provide a permanent and fixed connection between the end O the in question and.

the post; the character of this pivotal connection being ordinarilv such that the bar may swing in both vertical and horizontal planes, as indicated by the arrows at the left-hand end of the bar in Figs. 1 and 2.

The reference numeral 11 designates a latch member located within the free outer end of the bar 8 and which latch member is capable of reciprocating motion along the axis of said bar, and also of angular or oscillating motion about its own axis and the axis of said bar. This latch member is preferably enlarged near its outer end, as shown at 12, to approximately the same diameter as that of the interior of the bar 8, in order to provide a better guide for the outer lefthand end of said member during its`movements. Said latch member is further provided near its outer end with a screw threaded collar 13 with which the free outer end of a sleeve 14 is in threaded engagement, and which sleeve therefore serves to cover or inclose the free outer or left-hand end of the bar 8, as clearly shown in Fig. et; and in order to prevent relative movement of the sleeve 14 and the threaded collar 13 a screw 15 is provided which extends through a hole at the left-hand end of the sleeve, and into the collar 13.

The left-hand free end of the latch member 12 is provided with a locking head 16,

the same being comparatively thin so that when the latch member is rotated to bring the greater dimension of said head parallel and into alinement with a comparatively narroaY slot 17in the upright post 7 the said head may vbe moved laterally and through said slot, after which and when said latch member is rotated in a reverse direction the greater dimension oit said head will extend across the post 7, as will be understood from Fig. 1 and as shown in Fig. 5, to thereby interlock the free end of the locking member with the said post 7.

rlhe latch member 12 is operated by a spring 18 which acts both to draw the said member into the free left-hand end of the tube 8, and to rotate said member upon its axis, to thereby maintain the locking head 16 normally in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, or, as otherwise stated, in a position such that the latch member will have to be rotated throughout substantially 90 before the locking head can be inserted into the slot 17 as above explained. In order to communicate both angular and longitudinal movement to the latch member the righthand end of the spring 1S is xedly connected with the inner end of' the latch member 12, as indicated at 19; while the left-hand end of said spring is in secured to a fixed abutment 2O secured in place within the bar 8 by screws 21 extending into the said abutment. As shown in Figs. 8 and 1, the left-hand end of the spring a like manner ixedly is bent and extends into a hole provided in the abutment 19, as indicated at 22, althougl'i the connection between the spring and the abutment may be provided for in other ways, as will be appreciated.

The abutment 2O is provided with a central opening through which the latch member eX- tends, and the same is prolonged to the left to provide two guides 23, 23 spaced apart from each other and between which guides a lug or proj ect-ion 24 carried by the latch member operates, the said guides obviously serving to limit the angular movement ot' the latch member by engagement of the projection 2l with the said guides.

In closing and opening between the side posts 6, 7, are equivalent fixed supports or abutments the bar 8 is iii-st swung into ap proximately the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the normal position of the locking head 16 being such that its greater dimension extends across the slot 17, as clearly shown in said ligures. The operator next imparts angular movement throughout approximately 90o to the latch member 11 through and by means of the sleeve 1d which he grasps in his hand, thereby moving t-he locking head into a position such that it may be moved to the left and through the slot 17 of the post 7. `When the said head has been moved into a position within the post 7 the latch member is rotated in a reverse direction to cause the locking head to take up a position across the post, thus locking the free left-hand end of the latch meiner in position and holding the bar across the opening between the posts, the locked position of the parts being shown in Fig. f1 of the drawing.

lt will be appreciated that the angular movement imparted to the latch member is limited by engagement of the projection or lug 211 with the guides 23, the elements referred to forming stops for limiting the extent of angular movement in both directions.

The arrangement of the spring 18 is such that the projection 21 is normally kept in contact with the upper of the guides 23, as shown in Fig. 2, irrespective of whether the locking head 16 is within and interlocked with the post 7 as shown in Fig. 4L, or is outside the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, from which it follows that the normal position of the head 16, due to the action of the spring, is horizontal, as shown in Figs, 1 and 2, and that the spring will in fact return the locking head to that position after it has been rotated and moved through the slot 17 should the operator neglect to rotate l the latch member backward, or should he let go of it before the locking head 16 has taken the final transverse position necessary to interlock the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described and explained our llO invention, -we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a movable hollow bar adapted toclose a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end; and a spring located within said bar and operatively connected with said latch member and acting to move the same into the interior of said bar. n

2. In `latch mechanism of the rclass described and in combination with a swinging hollow bar adaptedf to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar, and having a locking. head at its free outer end; means for limiting the oscillating movement of said latch member; and a spring located within said bar and acting to impart both angular and longitudinal movement to said latch member.

3. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a movable hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end; a xed abutment located within said bar and having an opening through which said latch member extends; spring surrounding said latch member and the two ends of which are iixedly secured one to said abutment and the other to the inner end of said latch member.

4. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a swinging hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end; a fixed abutment located within said bar and having an opening through which said latch member extends, and guides spaced apart from one another for limiting the angular movement ot said latch member; a projection or lug carried by said latch member and operable between and adapted to engage the guides aforesaid at the ends of the angular movements of said latch member; and a spring surrounding said latch member and the two ends of which are fixedly secured one to said abutment and the other t0 the inner end of said latch member.

5. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a swinging hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end; a sleeve carried by said latch member and adapted to inclose the free end of said bar; and a spring located within said bar and and a Afixed abutment located within said bar Vhaving an opening through which the inner operatively connected with said latch member and acting to move the same into the interior of said bar.

A6. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a movable hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end otsaid bar and having a threaded collar at its outer end and a locking head at its extremity; a sleeve surrounding the end of said bar and the outer end of which is in threaded engagement with said collar; and a spring located within said bar and acting to impart both angular and longitudinal movementI to said latch member. A

7. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a swinging hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a re'- ciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end o said bar and a portion of which is enlarged so as to form a close t within the interior of said bar, said latch member having a locking` head at its 'free outer end; a sleeve inclosing the outer end of said'bar and which sleeve is connected with said latch member so as to move therewith; means for limiting oscillating movement of said latch member; and aV spring located within said bar and acting to impart both angular and longitudinal movement to said latch member.

8. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with a swinging hollow bar adapted to close a passage, a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the tree end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end, the outer end of said latch member being of a diameterkto fit within the outer end of said bar and the same having a collar adjacent its outer end; a sleeve inclosing the outer end of said bar, and which sleeve is tixedly secured to said collar; a and end of said latch member extends; guides located within said bar and spaced apart Jfrom one another; a projection or lug carried by said latch member and operating between said guides to limit the extent of angular movement imparted to said latch member through said sleeve; and a spring surrounding the inner end of said latch member,A one end of said spring being fixedly secured to said latch member and the other end thereof being fixedly secured to said abutment. f

9. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with two abutments or-supports spaced apart from each other, and a hollow bar adapted to close the passage between said abutments, one of said abutments being provided with a slot and said bar being pivotally connected with iio the Aother of said abutments; ing and oscillating latch within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end, the normal position oie which is such that it will not contact with the abutment having said slot when said bar is moved into its closing position; and a spring located within said bar and acting` to impart both angular and longitudinal movement to said latch member.

l0. In latch mechanism of the class described and in combination with two abutments or supports spaced apart from each other, and a hollow bar adapted to close the passage between said abutments, one of said abutments being' provided with a slot and said bar being pivotally connected with the other of sa ld abutments; a reciprocating and oscillating latch member located within and at the free end of said bar and having a locking head at its free outer end, the

a reciprocatmember located normal position of which is such that it will not Contact with the abutment having said slot when said bar is moved into its closing position; a spring located within said bar and acting to impart both angular and longitudinal movement to said latch member; and a sleeve surrounding the free end of said bar and operatively connected with said latch member and through which angular movement may be communicated thereto to move said locking head into position such that it ma7 enter into said slot.

Signed at New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York this 28th day of February, A. D. 1919.

WILLIAM M. l/VAMPLER. GEORGE E. HENRY.

lVitnesses A. M. LInDnNsTRUTl-r, Gr. H. ORD.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

